Sunday, January 4, 2015

When West Indies
unceremoniously abandoned their Indian tour, Sri Lanka stepped in as substitute
and lost 5-0 with Rohit Sharma scoring a record breaking 264. Dhoni did not play in that Series. Now Times Now Chief Arnab Goswami ran a
predetermined swipe questioning Dhoni’s decision to quit – he questioned the
timing of it, calling it dropping the National interest and went on clamouring
more. As has been seen in the Social
media, there is a group of people who say that he deserted the team. Perhaps MSD seldom planned to retire at the end of the third
Test. Something happened during this Test that convinced him to make this
decision. This could have been mental fatigue reaching its limit or a gut
instinct telling him to call it a day. He has been a brave and forthcoming
person and his dropping out midway might in no way change India’s fortunes.

India move to Sydney for
the final Test, a couple of years ago, in 2012, the ground hosted it its 100th
test – a feat matched only by two other grounds – Melbourne and Lords. In that
Test, Michael Clarke made an unbeaten triple hundred and India lost badly by an
innings and 68 runs. In Jan 2004, India
scored a massive 705 for 7 declared.
Akash Chopra opened with Virender
Sehwag and they scored 45 & 72 respectively. Dravid 38, Partiv Patel 62
made runs; but it was entirely Sachin Tendulkar remaining unbeaten on 241 and
VVS Laxman making 178 and their stand of 353 which held the centre stage. In 2008 here, Harbhajan was suspended for three matches after the second
Test in Sydney - the monkey gate affair
- but the penalty was subsequently reduced
to a fine on appeal.

One thing not so well
appreciated by the media is the fact that with the sudden declaration, MS Dhoni
ensured that there is no farewell Test
for India's most successful Test captain, most successful wicketkeeper and most
prolific keeper-batsman. No home series sold at exorbitant prices. No home
association allowed to exploit the moment. No farewell speeches, no farewell press
conference, no lap of honour. Without
any fanfare, after MS Dhoni finished his press conference post the Boxing Day
Test, and the BCCI sent a press release
with the news. An hour after India had managed to draw an away Test, the first
time in the last 14 Australia-India Tests that a team hasn't lost away from
home ~ and vintage Dhoni after successfully defending walked away 10 short of
100 which perhaps would have lured some to continue.

Now at Sydney, we will have
new captain Virat Kohli with uncertainty around a few places in the side. If
the training two days before the start of the SCG Test is any indicator, Suresh
Raina has now a decent chance to play in Sydney, but despite a nervous debut
capped by ordinary shots to get out, KL Rahul has not yet been sidelined.

Nearer, nestled beneath
Mount Victoria and Mount Cook, the Basin Reserve is an island of cricket in
inner city Wellington. Here our island neighbours made something to remember –
all credit due to that warrior Kumar Sangakkara, once a wicketkeeper. He has now socred 11 200+ scores - only one behind Don Bradman's record of 12.
Five of these scores have come in away Tests, which equals the most by any
batsman. Bradman, Wally Hammond and Brian Lara also had five 200-plus scores in
away Tests. Sanga has also hit 38 centuries till date. Following his 203, Sanga said his Test future
remained undecided. Sangakkara had
originally planned to quit all formats following the World Cup, which would
have made the ongoing match his final Test. However, he has reconsidered that
decision after receiving requests to stay, from the selectors and Angelo
Mathews, among others.